As a person who has tried to go vegetarian a few times, the thought of going to a vegetarian-only restaurant is mostly exciting, though a little uneasy at the same time. To ease this feeling, I had a fellow creative almost-veggie join me for lunch at Golden Era Vegetarian Restaurant in downtown San Francisco. Though the Tenderloin part of downtown is not known for being the nicest, safety is not an issue. From outside, the eatery looks like another tiny joint, but walking in reveals an open, high-ceiling, sunken dining room with slightly dimmed lighting.

Right inside the door, you will be met with flyers and pamphlets about vegetarianism, veganism, and a woman called Supreme Master Ching Hai. Through a little research, one learns that she is a Buddhist who has reached enlightenment and is a well-known humanitarian. Fear not – this info is not pushed on you and doesn’t change the dining experience.

Greeted right away and sat quickly, this is the beginning of a great meal. The servers are friendly, helpful, and prompt. The hardest decision that you will have to make is simply what to eat as their menu is full of appetizing treats. From appetizers to entrees and soup to sizzling claypots, the choices are many. You’ll find a number of familiar Asian vittles, such as pot stickers, spring rolls, wonton noodles, chow mein, and fried rice. All of the items here are vegan, unless marked on the menu as simply vegetarian. Some of the desserts, such as the caramel flan and fruit smoothies are available in regular, non-vegan or vegetarian versions. Making it in time for their lunch specials, we ordered the lemon chicken and mixed vegetable chicken black bean dishes. Before finishing half a cup of their delicious tea, the food had arrived already.

Knowing that at least half of the “meat” at this restaurant is tofu-based made me think it would be noticeably “bean-y”, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The batter-fried “chicken” complimented the lemon sauce smoothly, with the rice adding a hint of texture. Trying to keep up with the healthy theme, we both ordered brown rice instead of white, which turned about to be a delicious enhancement. The mixed vegetable chicken black bean dish was given two thumbs up by my fellow diner. She was most notably impressed with the fact that all of the vegetables carried their own flavor without being overwhelmed by the black bean sauce. Despite being a seafood fan and cautious vegetarian experimenter, her entrée was consumed with scrumptious glee.

There is no sense of rushing here. You won’t find a pretentious soul around and though the food is primarily Vietnamese, anyone can feel comfortable in their surroundings. The décor is just enough to remind you of the Eastern world, but not enough to make you feel you have been transported across the sea. A soothing mix of jazz played on the stereo, easing you closer to nirvana ever so slightly.

With a $5.50 lunch special under my belt, it was time to spoil myself with a dessert. The carrot cupcake was calling my name, while my cohort went for the eggless cheesecake. Two-thumbs up for the cupcake, especially the tasty vegan icing on top; the cheesecake got a positive review as well, not lasting for more than 5 minutes on her plate. For nearly $20 for two people, this had to be one of the most enjoyable and soothing meals I’ve had in a long time. As a yogi, coming here after a class would only help to extend your sense of compassion and private practice. A pleasant surprise awaited me later that day when, over four hours after my meal, I was still delightfully satisfied. With such accessible prices and a central location via bus or car, a meal at the Golden Era will leave you more than gratified.

Golden Era Vegetarian Restaurant
572 O’Farrell Street (near Leavenworth)
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-673-3136
goldeneravegetarian.com
Hours: 11 am – 9 pm; closed Tuesdays
Visa, MasterCard, and Discover accepted
Take out and banquet seating available; no delivery
Public parking available next door

[Scans can be seen here]